Can You Break Your Silicone Implant While Massaging It Too Forcefully? (photo)

I was given instructions to massage and I really spent much effort on one boob that wasn't moving freely and looking odd/small. Now when i feel that area the implant seems to be not a sturdy and much harder to pop up towards the collar bone. Another odd thing is that at night it gets small and then in the morning its fuller again. I am worried now that I broken the implant because to the touch it feels different & too the look it's smaller. Did it break?

Breast Implant Massage

October 22nd, 2012

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The implant will not rupture from squeezing it or wrestling. It would require a sharp stab or extremely excessive force to break the implant. So massage did not break the implant. You may have some swelling which comes and goes with the pocket on the tight side. It takes some time after surgery for swelling to subside (some patients longer than others). It takes 4-6 months before you can accurately judge the size and symmetry.

Durability of silicone implants

October 18th, 2012

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It is extremely unlikely that you could massage your implants too aggressively and cause the implant to rupture. Breast implants are incredibly resilient and difficult to break. I routinely stomp on implants in my office to demonstrate how durable the implants are to my patients. I am not certain as to why your implants seem bigger or smaller at different times of the day.

Breast Implants Pictures

Can massage break an implant?

October 8th, 2012

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I couldn't rupture a modern silicone implant with all my strength (and I demonstrate this daily to patients during consultation), so I would say 'no' to your question. It looks like you have an excellent result. As for your other comments I suggest you talk with your plastic surgeon.

Silicone implant massage

October 8th, 2012

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Opinions vary on implant massage. I recommend massage of implants one month after surgery. The new implants available today from the three top suppliers are almost impossible to rupture by squeezing them out of the body imagine what youn have to do to the breast once inside the body. This was not true of the older implants that were extremely easy to rupture. So don't worry but have your PS examine you.

Massage Busting Silicone Breast Implants?

October 8th, 2012

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New breast implant are built to be be very resilient. They are quite hard to rupture by compression and massage. As the years pass by and the shells thin in areas of repeated compression a moderate size force (mammogram, blow to the chest etc) could cause a leak. I do not think this is the case here but you should be seen by your Plastic surgeon to advise you.

Implant rupture from massage

October 8th, 2012

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Actually implant rupture from massage is fairly hard to do, unless of course the implants very old, say ten years or more. There may be some asymmetry before to after, though let your surgeon have a look.

Implant rupture with massage

October 7th, 2012

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If you had your implants placed recently, it is highly unlikely that you can rupture the implants with massage. The new shells of the implants are very resistant to rupture especially from forces that would be present during massage. You may be healing differently between the two breasts. Talk to your surgeon so he/she can do an in person examination.

I see from your previous posts that your surgery was done in August, 2012. The good news is silicone breast implants today have strong shells which will not rupture from forceful massaging, therefore you can eliminate this worry.

You stated the reason for your massaging was that the implant did not move freely and it appeared smaller than the contralateral side. The smaller breast may be because you have an early capsular contracture. Capsular contractures make breasts look smaller as the implant is forced into a smaller area, they don't move freely, and they tend to be a little higher than their partner on the other side.

In my practice, I personally feel that breast massaging (displacement exercises) is of little value, and the use of medication to modify your inflammatory response (capsular contracture) makes a great deal more sense. At this point, you should speak to Dr. Sorokin about options and possibilities.

These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as
a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you
have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute
or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.